Liverpool are prepared to thrash it out with Chelsea in the race to sign FC Porto star Alex Telles, according to Le Parisien via TEAMtalk.
Telles was exceptional for Liga NOS champions FC Porto last season having gained a better WhoScored.com rating (7.98) than any other player in Portugal’s top tier last term.
A return of 13 assists was better than any other player and his flying form hasn’t gone unnoticed, with PSG also weighing up a bid for the left-back.
The Brazilian supposedly has a lowly £35m release clause in his FC Porto contract and that has attracted interest from a number of Europe’s top teams.
Telles played in the 5-0 Champions League loss to Liverpool last season and would provide ample competition for Andrew Robertson for a starting spot at Anfield, while his arrival would then allow the Reds to cash in on Alberto Moreno, whose contract expires next summer.
Chelsea, though, could rival the Reds for Telles should Antonio Conte’s likely replacement at Stamford Bridge deem Marcos Alonso and Emerson not good enough to challenge for a starting spot.
Telles’ current deal in Portugal runs until 2021 and they’ll be keen to extend that before the rumoured release clause can be triggered.
